Tonga comes to visit... again?

The effects of Tongan undersea volcanic eruptions are not the first thing you'd think of when enjoying the summer weather on a sandy beach at Kingscliff, Byron Bay or Port Macquarie. But 6 years ago, in 2013 there was a direct reminder of a volcanic eruption of the the undersea volcano the Havre Seamount. This reminder was pumice rock washed ashore from an eruption which took place about 6 months previously. You can read more about it on the blog post I wrote at the time. It looks likely a very similar thing is going to occur in the next few months.

In mid August this year (2019) it was observed that a massive 'raft' of pumice rock was floating west of Tonga. A small island called Fonualei showed evidence of recent activity, with steam and fresh pumice in the area. The extent however of the eruption went unnoticed until a sailing boat sailed through a huge pumice raft. ABC News has a great video of what sailing through the raft looked like.
Photographs from passenger aircraft and also some satellite pictures have shown that the size of the eruption must have been huge. The Island of Fonualei was active but clearly not the main location of the eruption. We'd all be very aware of the eruption if it was Fonualei erupting the volume of rock obvious from the satellite.
Given that the prevailing currents and winds will direct this pumice onto the coast of Australia it is something to look out for. Biologically it is interesting too. Fresh pumice washed up on the shore can transport various sea creatures. This is because pumice makes a great home given its porosity.
Not much more to add, except a prediction. I don't know how good it will be but I guess that come mid summer we will see pumice from Tonga washing up on the beaches of NSW and Queensland.

Time to Make Plans for Your Fall Hiking Trip to the Smokies

For anyone considering a trip to see the beautiful fall colors of the Great Smoky Mountains, now is the time to make plans and have your reservations in place. October in the Smokies is the second most popular month in terms of park visitation. And with the awesome beauty the autumn season provides, it's really no wonder.

If you do plan to visit the Smokies this fall - or even during the upcoming Holiday Season - please take a few moments to check out our Accomodations Listings for a wide variety of lodging options in Gatlinburg, Townsend, Pigeon Forge and the North Carolina side of the Smokies.

We really appreciate you supporting our sponsors, which helps to keep this blog and the HikingintheSmokys.com website up and running.

Finally, if you need any help on where to hike this fall, check out our fall hiking page for the best hikes throughout the autumn period.

As always, thank you very much!



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Toujours aussi seuls dans l’Univers !

Salut à tous,

Du site Radio-Canada : Un premier bilan de trois années de traque n'a pas permis de découvrir une forme de vie intelligente extraterrestre, que ce soit dans la Voie lactée ou dans notre voisinage galactique.  

¨La prémisse du film E.T. l'extraterrestre n’est pas sur le point de se réaliser, puisque les recherches les plus poussées à ce jour n’ont pas permis de détecter de signal associé à la présence d’une vie intelligente autour des étoiles voisines de notre système solaire. Tour d'horizon.

Notre Soleil est l’une des centaines de milliards d’étoiles situées au sein de la Voie lactée, l'une des milliards de galaxies qui composent notre Univers toujours en expansion.

  C’est dans ce tourbillon perpétuel que se trouvent les Homo sapiens qui évoluent depuis 300 000 ans sur la Terre, une toute petite planète bleue en orbite autour d’une étoile parmi tant d’autres.

  

   Depuis toujours, les humains se questionnent devant l’immensité du ciel. Et si d’autres créatures intelligentes existaient dans ce vaste cosmos? Notre imagination en a créé des représentations, dans la littérature comme au cinéma, mais la réalité est plus terre à terre.

Pas dans notre système

   Depuis quelques années, il devient de plus en plus clair que les petits bonshommes verts ne viendront pas de Mars. Peut-être même pas de notre système solaire, où les astrophysiciens concentrent plutôt leurs recherches pour trouver des formes de vie plus simples, comme des microorganismes.

   Mais les Homos sapiens n’abandonnent pas l’idée de se trouver des compagnons célestes.

Pour découvrir une civilisation avancée, les humains regardent toujours plus loin dans l’Univers, grâce à des outils toujours plus sophistiqués.

   À ce jour, ils ont ainsi trouvé plus de 4000 planètes autour d’autres étoiles que le Soleil. De ce nombre, une vingtaine d’entre elles se trouvent à une distance de leur étoile qui pourrait permettre la présence d’une forme de vie.

   Les humains sondent aussi le cosmos à la recherche de signaux radio qui émaneraient d'une civilisation développée sur le plan technologique. Ils le font depuis les années 60 grâce, entre autres, aux différents projets de l’Institut SETI, dont l'objectif est de détecter la présence de civilisations avancées dans notre Voie lactée¨...   ( Voir l'article au complet )

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1202966/vie-extraterrestre-dectection-seti-breakthrough-initiatives?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter 

   

Pégé

Windows 7 / Windows 10 / Ubuntu 18.04 LTS / Linux Mint 19

( SI TU NE SAIS PAS, DEMANDE... SI TU SAIS, PARTAGE ! )

Great Smoky Mountains Announces Major Road and Campground Closures

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced that the main access roads into Cades Cove and Cataloochee will be closed for road construction projects for several months this upcoming winter.

Cove Creek Road, the main access road into Cataloochee, is expected to be closed from November 1 through February 29, 2020 for roadwork while the NC Department of Transportation repairs a landslide just outside of the park along the county road. This full road closure will prevent access into Cataloochee from the south. The Cataloochee area will remain accessible via old Highway 284, which is a narrow, winding gravel road leading from the Big Creek area of the park into Cataloochee Valley. Weather depending, this road may be closed at any time due to snow, ice, or downed trees. This route is not recommended for low clearance vehicles or trailers. The Cataloochee Campground is expected to reopen for the 2020 season by March 26.

Laurel Creek Road, the seven-mile access road leading from the Townsend Wye to Cades Cove will be closed to all motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from January 3 through February 29, 2020 to repair the Bote Mountain Tunnel. The full closure, beginning just past Tremont Road, is necessary to allow equipment set-up for the repair of the internal drainage system in the walls and ceiling of the 121-foot long tunnel. Crews will enclose and heat the tunnel, allowing the temperature-sensitive repairs to be conducted during the winter months when visitation is lower. Intermittent single-lane closures will be necessary between March 1 and June 15, 2020 to complete the tunnel repairs and to re-pave the tunnel area.

The Cades Cove Campground, normally open through the winter, will be closed from December 30, 2019 through March 5, 2020. To accommodate winter campers, both Elkmont Campground in TN and Smokemont Campground in NC will remain open through the year.

The Bote Mountain Tunnel, constructed in 1948, has not had any significant rehabilitation work since that time. Crews will replace nine drainage chases requiring track-mounted saws to cut through the concrete liner along the arc of the 18-foot high tunnel opening. Cracks throughout the tunnel will also be sealed and repaired. Without repairs, leaks will lead to compromised concrete walls and the development of ice hazards during the winter months.

For more information on road closures in the park, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Nantahala Gorge is Closed After Landslides

The Jackson County Rescue Squad posted this blurb about a massive landslide in the Nantahala Gorge on their Facebook page last night. The landslide occurred near where N.C. 28 joins U.S. 19/74 near Bryson City in Swain County:

Two large landslides have trapped over 20-30 civilians and responders between slides...and currently working on an evac plan... no one trapped in debris. Rescue crews are advising the river has been choked down to 10 wide in these spots and Duke Energy is shutting down the river. NC HWY 74/19 will be shutdown for several days possibly while crews remove debris and assess for potential hazards. Avoid the area!!!

Since that posting the vehicles that were trapped have been able to get out. However, according to the NCDOT Twitter feed, as of this morning:

Operations will continue at least into Tuesday. A detour has been established. Westbound vehicles will take N.C. 28 West to N.C. 143 South to N.C. 129 South U.S. 19/74.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

La contrefaçon de marchandises et le rôle des territoires !

Salut à tous,

Du site Diploweb.com : La géographie mouvante d'un commerce illicite : la contrefaçon de marchandises !

¨Parmi les aspects de la « face noire de la mondialisation », les trafics illicites transcontinentaux demeurent grâce au décloisonnement du monde, avec une ouverture des frontières favorisant les espaces de libre-échange. Le trafic de contrefaçon de marchandises profite en effet des moyens de transport modernes – notamment maritimes - et s’immisce dans le flux croissant des marchandises licites à travers le monde. Le difficile contrôle de la sous-traitance, le gigantisme des projets de développement des infrastructures logistiques et l’accroissement des zones franches testent toujours un peu plus la résilience des pouvoirs publics face aux mécanismes de la mondialisation économique. Illustré de deux cartes.

   Considérée par certains comme le trafic du XXIéme siècle [1], la contrefaçon de marchandises préoccupe par son efficacité à prospérer à l’échelle planétaire. Portant atteinte aux droits de propriété intellectuelle (DPI), le commerce du faux nuit à la capacité d’innovation, met en péril des industries qui font face à une concurrence déloyale, entraînant des pertes économiques pour les entreprises et les États. Outre les enjeux économiques, les experts et les entités institutionnelles mettent en garde contre une activité liée à la criminalité organisée, qui permet de mettre sur le marché des produits de consommation courante nuisibles pour la santé des consommateurs. Jouissant des outils de la mondialisation tels que le libre-échange, l’intensification de la sous-traitance internationale, le développement des transports, le phénomène profite également de la présence des frontières politiques.

  Celles-ci sont utilisées par les trafiquants-contrefacteurs pour profiter des avantages de la mondialisation économique en termes de différence de coût de production ou de fluidité du commerce international selon le cadre national. Cela leur permet de contourner aussi – et surtout – les contraintes, en bénéficiant des disparités législatives entourant le DPI, des inégalités de la réponse publique face à la contrefaçon selon les États, pour produire, acheminer et écouler des contrefaçons en quantité industrielle.

En quoi le territoire peut-il être ainsi un lieu de profitabilité pour le trafic de contrefaçon de marchandises ?
    Cet article propose de mettre en lumière des territoires qui expliquent la prospérité de ce trafic illicite en raison de leurs rôles dans la mondialisation économique. Il s’agit également de considérer la présence de territoires qualifiés d’ « espaces de non-contrôle » sur lesquels l’autorité de l’État (et de ses institutions) est fragilisée notamment par des conflits armés, des phénomènes de corruption, ou encore l’omniprésence d’une influence criminelle. Cet article veut ainsi apporter quelques éléments de réflexion sur une « géographie de la contrefaçon » dont les dynamiques territoriales sont liées à l’évolution de la mondialisation et aux interventions limitées des services en charge de l’application de la loi sur le territoire¨... ( Voir l'article au complet )

 https://www.diploweb.com/La-contrefacon-de-marchandises-et-le-role-des-territoires-la-geographie-mouvante-d-un-trafic.html

Pégé 

Windows 7 / Windows 10 / Ubuntu 18.04 LTS / Linux Mint 19

( SI TU NE SAIS PAS, DEMANDE... SI TU SAIS, PARTAGE ! )

Noah Bud Ogle Cabin and Nature Trail Temporary Closure

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced a temporary, weekday closure of the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin, Noah Bud Ogle Nature Trail, and associated parking area to allow crews to make needed cabin repairs. The area will be closed August 26 through September 12 on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. through Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. weekly. The area will be fully open each week on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and on federal holidays.

The Noah Bud Ogle cabin is located on Cherokee Orchard Road near Gatlinburg, TN. The cabin, barn, and tub mill are preserved along a mile-long nature trail. The unique cabin design joins two structures together by a common chimney. Crews will be making much-needed repairs to the chimney.

For more information on road and trail closures, please visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Bottled Tweed Shire Spring Water - The Biffo!

I’ve been meaning to address the ‘bottled spring water' discussions that have been going on for quite some time in the Northern Rivers. I guess better late than never is OK. The recent request by Tweed Shire Council for comment on their draft planning proposal made me think it was worth putting some ideas up now. This is not a very technical post, more of a bureaucratic process one. Note it does not include surface water issues which are legally very similar and tied up with groundwater, it also does not consider the other issues such as road damage from haulage of water, construction of water supply pipelines etc). To be very clear... this is also tagged as an opinion post. It contains my personal views and opinions on the matter - they can be very different from yours! Feel free to let me know what your opinion is in the comments section below.

Can't find a relevant photo... so this will do!

To give some background, groundwater in the Tweed Valley is derived from two main aquifer types, either deep fractured rocks of the (administratively called the New England Fold Belt Coast Groundwater Source), or shallow groundwater systems of the sediments of recent alluvium (Such as the Tweed Alluvium Water Source). I understand that most (or is it all?) of the groundwater that is extracted in the Tweed Valley that ends up in water bottles is from the deeper groundwater source.

 

Tweed Council is proposing to prohibit new water bottling facilities in rural zoned areas of the shire. One of the reasons overly simplistically outlined for this proposal by the Tweed Daily News is that “there is not enough data on groundwater resources to fully understand the environmental impacts of the industry”. The Planning proposal document also says “…there was a perception that water belongs to the community and should not be used for private profit”.

This raised my eyebrow. 

Access to groundwater in NSW is controlled by the state government. This is in two forms: 

1. 1. The actual well or borehole that is to extract water is licenced by the state. 

When and individual wants to install a bore a water supply works approval application must be made to WaterNSW. Staff experienced in groundwater (including hydrogeologists) assess the application against plans (Water Sharing Plans) that have been developed to protect the environment from badly extracted water, including too much extracted water over periods of time, the possible impact on neighbouring groundwater bores and groundwater dependent ecosystems.  

2. 2.Water is owned by people and companies. The water itself when not used for basic landholder rights (e.g. stock and domestic) is licenced by the state and capped based on the water source (Water Sharing Plans). There is no automatic community right to any water unless it is basic rights water – which the Water Sharing Plans prohibit from being adversely affected. 

If an individual wants to extract water that is not for basic landholder rights they must buy water from some other producer in the water source. This means that the amount of water extracted cannot be increased. The plans that are in place also place a limit on how much water for different uses can be extracted from a source. I think the category of water in the case of bottling water would be Industrial Use. The limits on water have been set by hydrogeologists and state planners and are outlined in the Water Sharing Plans.

Slight differences to the above process are where a development is classed as state significant development, these are assessed in an even more detailed way (and by another organisation – the new Natural Resources Access Regulator). However, even in this case the extraction rules in the Water Sharing Plans cannot be ignored. 

In addition, the NSW Chief Scientist is due to release its final report on the impact of the water bottling industry on the North Coast. Being a state government review conducted by hydrogeologists this review has the potential to be the most useful for decision making and can directly feed into modifying the Water Sharing Plans or other licencing processes if there is shown to be a deficiency.  

Given that water is managed by the state government I was surprised to see that there is an expectation by some that Tweed Council should seek to manage water using local planning instruments. It is interesting that if a bottling plant is proposed in a rural area in the Tweed it requires Council consent now, and concurrence from other environmental agencies. In fact local government is legally required to refer such matters on to the appropriate state government department for these matters.  

I’m not saying this is the wrong way to manage water it is just, in my view, a very novel and creative way given the state has ultimate authority over water resources. How can a local government place rules that stop new water bottling plants to be constructed, but cannot stop water that is legally owed by someone and allowed to be used for that purpose under state rules? I guess this is one way you can… but a very cumbersome and possibly unnecessary way? If there is an expectation that the community owns the water, should the community actually be buying the water? I don’t fully know, as always I have more questions than answers! 

Anyway, the draft proposal in on public exhibition until the 17th of September 2019. Go to www.yoursdaytweed.com.au/waterbottling for more information or to make a submission.

Shenandoah National Park Announces Reopening of Big Meadows Wayside

Shenandoah National Park Superintendent Jennifer Flynn is pleased to announce the reopening of Big Meadows Wayside at mile 51 on Skyline Drive. The popular historic campstore, gift shop, and restaurant has been undergoing renovations since last winter.

Superintendent Flynn said, “This work has prepared the Wayside for another 50 years of service while retaining the historic fabric of the building.” Among the most visible changes is the reconfiguration of the interior space. The restaurant has been returned to its historic placement on the meadow side of the building so diners have a view of the iconic Big Meadow.

Other changes include a fire suppression system and an entirely new electrical system. The renovation was completed by the Park’s concessioner Delaware North, Inc. (DNC). DNC officials joined Superintendent Flynn for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, August 15, 2019.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Smokies Resumes Paving Work on Little River Road

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that the pavement preservation project on Little River Road will resume Monday, August 19. A thin pavement overlay will be applied to the entire length of the roadway between Sugarlands Visitor Center and the Townsend Wye, along with associated pull-offs and parking lots, and Elkmont Road leading to the campground. The project should be completed by September 20, 2019, though work schedules are subject to revision as needed for inclement weather.

Visitors traveling on Little River Road should expect weekday, single-lane closures and traffic delays from August 19 through September 20. Single-lane, daytime and nighttime closures are permitted from 7:00 p.m. on Sundays through 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. The lane closures will be managed with flagging operations. Parking areas and pull-offs will be closed intermittently for pavement application. To better accommodate visitors during periods of high visitation, no lane closures will be allowed during weekends, holidays, or on Sunday, September 15 due to anticipated high traffic associated with the annual Fall Rod Run in Pigeon Forge.

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the $ 6.5 million paving contract to GC Works, Inc. Road work will include the application of a thin lift overlay to preserve the life of the pavement. Potholes will be patched before application of the pavement overlay.

For more information about temporary road closures, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grsm or follow SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

La résilience : un trait de caractère ?

Salut à tous,

Du site CanalVie : La résilience, vous connaissez? Malgré une vie difficile et les pires épreuves imaginables, certaines personnes parviennent toujours à se remettre et à retrouver le bonheur alors que d’autres s’enfoncent dans la tristesse et la dépression lorsqu’ils sont confrontés au moindre évènement un peu négatif. Cette capacité à rebondir dans la vie est appelée la résilience par les spécialistes. Celle-ci est-elle innée ou est-il possible de la cultiver? Et si oui, quels sont les trucs pour devenir plus résilient et voir enfin les bons côtés de la vie ?  

Le concept de résilience !

   La « résilience » concerne premièrement le domaine de la science physique. Il définit la capacité qu’ont les corps étudiés (cellules, etc.) à résister aux chocs environnants et à reprendre ensuite leur forme et leurs propriétés initiales.
 
   Ce n’est que depuis les années 40 que ce concept a été adapté et appliqué à la psychologie. Il représente la plus ou moins grande capacité qu’ont les êtres humains à faire face aux épisodes douloureux de l’existence : maladie, deuil, précarité, violence, abus, etc.

   On peut dire d’une personne qu’elle est résiliente lorsque, plutôt que de nier les évènements ou de s’enfoncer dans la tristesse et la dépression à cause d’eux, elle parvient à y faire face, a ressortir plus fort de ses expériences, à rester optimiste et confiant en la vie.

Le mécanisme de la résilience !

   La résilience n’implique pas du tout que l’on nie l’adversité et que l’on fait comme si de rien n’était pour pouvoir passer à autre chose. Bien au contraire, il est nécessaire de faire face aux évènements. C’est un processus dynamique qui s’étale sur un temps plus ou moins long et qui permet à la personne concernée de passer au travers de ses épreuves et même d’en ressortir grandi.

La résilience : inné ou acquis ?

   Il n’existe pas de gêne de la résilience, ce qui veut donc dire que n’importe qui a les capacités de développer cette capacité à faire face aux évènements. Toutefois, plusieurs études scientifiques ont mis en lumière que la production d’hormones euphorisantes (dopamine, sérotonine) est plus élevée, et ce, dès les premières heures de vie, chez certains bébés. Cela montre que nous n’avons pas tous les mêmes armes face à l’adversité¨...  ( Voir l'article au complet )

https://www.canalvie.com/sante-beaute/bien-etre/resilience-caractere-1.1337580

Pégé

Windows 7 / Windows 10 / Ubuntu 18.04 LTS / Linux Mint 19

( SI TU NE SAIS PAS, DEMANDE... SI TU SAIS, PARTAGE ! )

Programming Note: Friends Across the Mountains Telethon Tonight

Tonight is the 25th annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon. As in years past, the event will again be broadcasted on WBIR-TV Channel 10 in Knoxville, TN and WLOS-TV Channel 13 in Asheville, NC from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

The broadcast will highlight projects and programs that Friends of the Smokies has funded over the years. It's a fun event that raises awareness of both the Park's needs (as the only major national park without an entrance fee), and the ways that Friends of the Smokies helps to fulfill some of those needs every year. The telethon raises roughly $200,000 each year, and has raised more than $3.6 million dollars over the last 24 years.

Volunteers will be on hand to help answer phones and keep running totals of the money raised throughout the evening.

If you wish, you can make a donation right now by clicking here.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

USDA Forest Service extends comment period for draft regulations on management of national forests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is extending the public comment period on proposed changes to modernize how the agency complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposed rule would give the Forest Service the tools and flexibility to manage land and tackle critical challenges like wildfire, insects and disease while improving service to the American people. Based on the importance of the proposed rule, the Forest Service is extending the comment period by 14 days to allow more time for public review and comment.

The proposed rule was published June 13, 2019, and the public comment period was originally set to end on August 12, 2019. With the extension, the comment period now ends on August 26, 2019.

Revising the rule will improve forest conditions and make it simpler for people to use and enjoy their national forests and grasslands at lower cost to the taxpayer. The revised rule will also make it easier to maintain the roads, trails, campgrounds and other facilities people need to use and enjoy their public lands.

This announcement will also be published in the Federal Register. Public comments are reviewed and considered when developing the final rule. Instructions on how to provide comments are included in the online notice.

More information is available at https://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nepa/revisions/index.shtml.

Comments may be submitted through www.regulations.gov by searching docket number FS-2019-0010. Comments can also be submitted by mail to NEPA Services Group, care of Amy Barker, USDA Forest Service, 125 South State Street, Suite 1705, Salt Lake City, UT 84138; or by email at nepa-procedures-revision@fs.fed.us



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Smokey Bear turns 75 today!

Happy Birthday to Smokey Bear, the mascot of the U. S. Forest Service created to educate the public on the dangers of forest fires.

Smokey Bear's famous message "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" was created in 1944 by the Ad Council, making it the longest running Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign in U.S. history.

Smokey's correct full name is Smokey Bear. In 1952, the songwriters Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins had a hit with "Smokey the Bear". The pair said that "the" was added to Smokey's name to keep the song's rhythm. This small change has caused confusion among Smokey fans ever since.

The U.S. Forest Service authorized the creation of Smokey Bear on August 9, 1944. Smokey's debut poster (see picture above - on right) was delivered on October 10 of that year by artist Albert Staehle.

Be sure to check out the Smokey Bear website to see the history of the AD campaign. The site includes an interactive trail by decade with an extensive collection of old posters, TV/radio spots (including the famous Bambi TV spot), and other memorabilia.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Seeks Public Input on Elk Knob State Park Master Plan

The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation is seeking public input on the Elk Knob State Park Master Plan. The Master Plan will be a twenty-year plan that covers the entire state park, which contains over 4,200 acres spanning Watauga and Ashe Counties. The park is sited within the Amphibolite Mountains, an ecological hotspot of global significance.

E2 Landscape Architecture in Asheville is working with the Division and the public to develop the master plan, initially identifying both the recreation and conservation needs for the park. Stakeholder input is important to the process, and the open house-style public meeting will allow feedback from the community.

The public meeting will be held on Aug. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Optimist Park Clubhouse, located at 1012 State Farm Road in Boone. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and can expect to spend 20-30 minutes to review, discuss, and weigh in on their preferred recreational amenities for the park.

Amenities that will be considered for the master plan include a natural and cultural heritage center or visitor center, day use areas, campground areas, and hiking trails including sections of the Northern Peaks State Trail.

An online public survey is available for those who cannot attend the public meeting. Interested citizens can take the survey by visiting https://www.ncparks.gov/elk-knob-state-park/future-development.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Pardonner, c’est pouvoir voyager dans le passé et en retourner sans douleur !

Salut à tous,

Du site NosPensées : Et vous, savez-vous pardonner ?

¨ - Vous adapteriez-vous bien à la vie à l'étranger ?
   - Resignifier les expériences, un travail essentiel à la transformation
  - Comment se défendre selon les philosophies orientales
  
Quand on nous fait du mal, notre réaction immédiate est de ne pas pardonner à qui nous l’a fait.
   Nous nous sentons offensés, déçus et, dans certains cas, profondément meurtris. Mais cette réaction, si commune et si naturelle, a aussi ses difficultés.

   Il est vrai qu’à court terme, le maintien de la rancune peut empêcher les dommages de se poursuivre. C’est pourquoi nous ne pardonnons généralement pas de prime abord la personne qui nous a fait du mal. Mais si nous continuons à garder de la rancune pendant trop longtemps envers une personne, c’est comme si nous étions mentalement piégés. Dans une situation qui n’existe plus. Cela nous causera toutes sortes de sentiments intenses, qui peuvent à leur tour nous causer des souffrances inutiles.        ( Voir l'article au complet )

 https://nospensees.fr/pardonner-cest-pouvoir-voyager-dans-le-passe-et-en-retourner-sans-douleur/

-----------------------

 Du site France culture : Pardonner est-il une faiblesse ?  

   ¨  Que se passe-t-il, lorsque une personne pardonne à une autre personne sa faute ? Quels peuvent être les effets du pardon pour chacune d’elles ? Peut-on pardonner l'impardonnable ?

   On ne peut aborder ces questions qu’à la condition de se donner une compréhension du pardon à la fois déterminée, distinguée des excuses ou encore de l’oubli, et suffisamment flexible pour qu’elle embrasse la variété des situations et des pratiques qui en relèvent, du moins dans le champ du pardon interpersonnel et non du pardon de l’institution. Cette compréhension suppose, outre l’identification des conditions du pardon, de son objet formel, et de ses aspects cognitifs et affectifs, au moins la distinction et l’articulation entre la décision de pardonner et le processus de pardon que permet éventuellement cette décision¨...  ( Voir et écoutez l'article au complet )

https://www.franceculture.fr/conferences/ecole-normale-superieure/le-pardon-est-il-une-faiblesse?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&fbclid=IwAR0bTeqIx5W_Hmb-j8L7Ag_pnG5saTmhKBLwoDAjCtqIrDNT4jBVObSsZL8#Echobox=1561625095
   
Pégé
Windows 7 / Windows 10 / Ubuntu 18.04 LTS / Linux Mint 19

( SI TU NE SAIS PAS, DEMANDE... SI TU SAIS, PARTAGE ! )